13. Blake
THIRTEEN
Blake
The next morning, I prop myself up on one elbow, admiring the way the morning light plays against Sophia’s face. She stirs, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine.
“Morning, beautiful,” I murmur, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.
Sophia stretches, a contented sigh escaping her lips.
“Morning,” she replies, her voice still husky with sleep.
As we go through our morning routine, the scent of fresh coffee fills the apartment. I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close. Sophia leans into me, her body warm against mine.
We finish getting ready, and I take her hand in mine as we leave the apartment. The woman beside me, confident and smiling, is a far cry from the broken soul I first met.
“Let me walk you to work?”
“My knight in shining armor.” She laughs, and the sound is light and carefree.
As we approach Jenna’s café, the rhythmic pounding of hammers, the whine of power tools, and the shouts of workers create a cacophony of activity. The scent of fresh-cut wood mingles with the aroma of paint and coffee .
Jenna stands in the middle of it all, a bright yellow hard hat perched on her head, clipboard in hand. She directs workers with the precision of a seasoned general, her voice carrying over the din.
“No, no, the espresso machine goes there,” she points emphatically. “We need to maximize counter space.”
Sophia squeezes my hand, nerves and excitement radiating from her. I give her a reassuring smile and wrap my arm around her shoulders.
Jenna spots us, her face lighting up. “Blake, you’re here.” She navigates through the chaos to meet us, narrowly avoiding a worker carrying a large piece of drywall.
“Malia’s around here somewhere. My partner in caffeinated crime. I want you to meet her.”
“You must be Blake.” A petite woman with warm brown skin and a mass of curly hair approaches, her smile wide and welcoming. “Jenna’s told me all about you.”
“All good things, I hope?” I take her hand, returning the smile.
“The good, the bad, and the ugly. Sophia just can’t stop talking about you.”
“At least her coffee is getting better.” I can’t help myself and huff when Sophia smacks me in the gut.
“You deserve that.” Sophia gives me a look. “It’s not that bad.”
“It really was that bad.” I turn to Malia and press my hands together, begging. “Thank you for teaching the woman how to brew coffee.”
“ Oaf. ” Sophia smacks me playfully in the gut again.
“I’m teaching her everything I know.” Malia pulls Sophia away from me.
The three women fall into easy conversation, and I hang back, content to watch Sophia integrate seamlessly with Jenna and Malia. The construction continues around us, the air thick with sawdust and possibility.
A worker passes by, carrying a large beam of wood. The metallic scent mingles with the earthy smell of fresh wood and the chemical tang of paint. It’s a heady mixture, a physical representation of new beginnings .
“We’re going for a modern industrial look.” Jenna’s excitement is palpable as she outlines her vision for the café. She gestures to the exposed brick walls and steel beams. “But with warm touches to make it cozy, it will be beautiful.
Sophia listens intently, her eyes wide as she takes it all in.
“We’re just getting the coffee bar set up,” Malia chimes in. “We’re getting top-of-the-line equipment.” She turns her attention to Sophia. “You’re going to love learning on these machines.”
I’m struck by how natural it all seems. Sophia, laughing and engaged, looks like she belongs here. It’s a far cry from the withdrawn, fearful woman I first met.
A worker calls for Jenna’s attention, and she excuses herself with an apologetic smile. Malia takes the opportunity to steal Sophia from me.
“Come on.” She leads Sophia toward a partially set up counter. “Let me show you the basics of our espresso machine.”
Not wanting to intrude on this moment, I hang back. Sophia glances over her shoulder, her eyes shining with excitement. I raise my hand and give her a thumbs up, feeling a swell of pride in my chest.
“This is the group head.” Malia points to a part of the gleaming machine. “It’s where the magic happens.”
“And this part?” Her brow furrows in concentration. She indicates another component.
“That’s the steam wand. We use it to froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.”
Their voices blend with the ongoing construction noise, creating a symphony of new beginnings. The rhythmic pounding of hammers is a steady backbeat to Malia’s lesson and Sophia’s questions.
With Sophia in good hands, it’s time for me to head to work. I go to where she and Malia huddle around the espresso machine.
“Sorry to interrupt.” I place a hand on the small of Sophia’s back. “I’ve got to head out.”
“Already?” Sophia turns to me, her eyes bright with newfound knowledge .
“Duty calls. But it looks like you’re in good hands.” I glance at my watch.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her. By the time you return, she’ll be a coffee maestro.” Malia gives Sophia a playful nudge.
“I think that might be a bit optimistic.” Sophia rolls her eyes good-naturedly.
I can’t resist anymore. I pull Sophia close, one hand cupping her face as I kiss her deeply. It’s probably inappropriate for a workplace, but I don’t care. Her taste, mingled with the scent of coffee and sawdust, is intoxicating.
When we part, both slightly breathless, Malia looks on amused. Sophia’s cheeks flush, and her lips are slightly swollen from our kiss.
“I can’t wait for tonight. I have a few things I want to try.” I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear as I whisper.
“Is that a promise?” Sophia shivers in my arms, her fingers tightening on my biceps.
“You bet it is.” I squeeze her ass, relishing her sharp intake of breath. “Be good today. I’ll see you tonight.” With a final peck on her cheek, I step back. “Ladies.” I nod to Malia and Jenna, who’s made her way back over. “Take care of my girl, will you?”
“Don’t worry, Blake. We’ve got this.” Jenna grins, throwing an arm around Sophia’s shoulders.
Malia stage-whispers to Sophia. “Girl, you’ve got to tell me everything later.”
Sophia’s laughter follows me onto the street, the sound warming me from the inside out.
The walk to Guardian HQ is short, but my mind still buzzes with the morning’s events. The contrast between the chaotic energy of the café construction and the ordered efficiency of HQ is distinct.
As I enter the bullpen, I’m greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of my team at work. Computer screens flicker with data, the low hum of conversation punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence.” Gabe looks up as I approach, a grin spreading across his face .
“Some of us have lives outside of this place, you know.” I roll my eyes, dropping into my chair.
“Oh, we know. How’s the little woman settling in?” Walt chuckles from his desk.
“She’s good. Things are moving along at Jenna’s café.” The term ‘little woman’ grates on me, but Walt doesn’t mean any harm.
This piques everyone’s interest. Ethan looks up from his computer, eyebrows raised.
“No kidding? That’s great.”
“Yeah, she’s excited about working there. Nervous but excited.” I can’t suppress the pride in my voice.
“Good for her,” Rigel chimes in. “It’ll be nice to have decent coffee around here for a change.”
This sparks a debate about the merits of various coffee shops in the area, and I sit back, letting the familiar banter wash over me. As I boot up my computer and start reviewing the day’s intel, a profound feeling of contentment settles over me.
Sophia is finding her place and building new friendships, but the threat against her remains. Jonathan Greaves is still out there, threatening our happiness.
As the team settles into work, discussing strategies and analyzing data, my mind drifts back to Sophia. I picture her at the café, learning the intricacies of coffee-making, laughing with Jenna and Malia. The image brings a smile to my face.
“Earth to Blake.” Gabe’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “You with us, lover boy?”
I snap back to attention, clearing my throat. “Yeah, sorry. What were you saying?”
As Ethan outlines our latest lead, I knuckle down and focus. There’ll be time for daydreaming later. Right now, I have a job to do, but even as I immerse myself in the work, a part of me counts down the hours until I see Sophia again.
The day stretches ahead, full of potential and promise. Sophia is experiencing new beginnings, the team is facing ongoing challenges, and I am facing the exhilarating task of balancing it all.